[spycatcher]

It's not going to go away at midnight automatically

[IronJack]

I am part of this deal. My ISP is @Home. I'm not sure I can survive without a high-speed connection. It would be like going back to a party line and a cob stove.

[mombonn]

"While the cessation of customers' Internet access is regrettable, it does not jeopardize public health or safety."

No, but it would jeopardize my MENTAL health! A weekend without FR is like a weekend without sun! Actually, I can survive a weekend without sun!

Everyone disses AOL, but I have not had such troubles at work. I switched to @home for my home computer, wish I was back to dial-up at this point.

[Cagey]

My @home connection has been acting a bit odd tonight with periodic disconnects. Anyone else?

[Lazamataz]

Ping! But, um, you are in the air flying right now. What's the point of pinging you. Oh! I know. In case you use an internet kiosk when you land!

[meyer]

It is beginning to look like a power play. All the stakeholders are stating their case in various press releases. The bondholders probably want full replacement cost for their investment - that is, the cost of completely replacing the system. AT&T, on the other hand, wants to buy it as though it were a store full of used computer equipment. Somewhere in between is the answer. The judge just gave the bondholders some additional bargaining power.

One thing is for certain; if service is terminated, @home is done and cable internet service will be set back a few years. Yeah, the cable companies will take a hit, but internet service is but a small part of their business. I don't think AT&T has a very big stake in this either, relative to their size.

There's another thread on this subject here .

[Aurelius]

BUMP

[Glenn]

I signed up for a DSL line short-term until this @home thing is settled. It gave me the chance to do some speed testing. @home kicks DSL's butt.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Memo to corporate brigands at Excite, Comcast et al:

Shut me out tonight and I'm done with the Internet. (many more like me, I'm sure).

[MoJo2001]

Here in the Hampton Roads area there is an "Urgent Message to all Cox@Home subscribers" and it just doesn't look good. It will be sad to join the rest of America again with a SLOW MODEM..UGH! I'm sure those of you without DSL and Cable are really crying the Mocha a river, but hey..it's Friday..LOL! Much love to all of you!

[Hillary 666]

I'm an @Home customer. I'll keep Freeping as long as I can.

[Hillary 666]

If I can't be on FreeRepublic and download MP3s (at the same time), I am going go insane. 56K? It's like like riding your 10-speed on the freeway. I'll quit cold turkey before going back.

[Myrddin]

I had a great DSL connection at my old home in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego. When I found it necessary to rent a room from my father in Chula Vista, it was impossible to get DSL on his phone line (too far from the CO and no DSLAM either). I opted for Ricochet service. It was great...for a whole 3 weeks before it went bankrupt. I now have two paper weights worth over $350. What's left for high speed access at Dad's house? Cox@Home. When I got wind of the trouble brewing with @Home, I decided to delay buying a cable modem for my Dad's house. It looks like that was a good decision for me financially. My dad is left with nothing but dialup for connectivity.

[Don Myers]

bttt

[Cagey]

my e mail at comcast@home.com here in NJ has not been working for a couple of hours now.

[Hillary 666]

Guess I better update my smut collection. I need enough to last awhile (kind of like when I was in the Navy and my ship was about to go to sea).

[Billthedrill]

OK, here's what I got from AT&T:

If migrating your service to the AT&T Broadband network and service becomes necessary, we will call to notify you of the migration timing. A message will be left on your voicemail or recorder if no one is available at the time of the call. As a precaution, we are providing you the following instructions, which will enable you to connect your computer to the new AT&T Broadband network. Again, you will only need to follow these steps in the event you receive a call from AT&T Broadband instructing you to do so.

1. Restart your computer to begin the process.
2. Open your Internet browser. You should be automatically sent to an AT&T Broadband welcome page. This page includes instructions on how to download software used to change your computer settings for the new network. If the welcome page does not automatically appear when you open your browser, please go to http://newuser.attbi.com/ (This website will only be available if the service migration is necessary).
3. Follow the instructions on the Web site to run the Automated Configuration Utility (or you can choose to change your computer settings manually).
4. The software will automatically change your Outlook Express email client, your Internet Explorer settings, and configure your computer for the new AT&T Broadband network. Information on how to manually change your settings for other email clients and Internet browsers such as Netscape Communicator and Netscape Navigator can be found at http://help.broadband.att.com/
5. You can now surf the Internet and use email on the new AT&T Broadband Internet network and service.

If migrating your service to the new network is necessary, certain aspects of your service would change. Your current homepage would feature new content and your current email address domain name would change. Please note that your username would remain the same. For example, jsmith@home.com would change to jsmith@attbi.com. If service changes are necessary, a detailed description of all changes will be provided at http://help.broadband.att.com/ in the Announcements and Updates section.

I don't know if that applies to everyone, but there it is just in case you do get cut off. Be aware that no matter what the outcome This will change the terms of your contract.

Cut me off? They don't dare!! They can have my FR account when they pry my keyboard from my cold, stiff fin

[tubebender]

If you @home FReeples want to impress your cable companies call them and tell them if the modem goes so goes your cable dues.

I remember pBS or someone doing a story on the teenagers that founded excite and were suddenly zillionairs. One of them bought his first new car. I think it was a Honda Civic?

[PatrioticAmerican]

If AT&T screws this up, I will cancel my cable and cell accounts.

[Black Cat]

The key phrase in the story is: One bondholder said cable companies would engage in a "murder-suicide" pact with the Excite@Home if they switched off service.

So AT&T, the bondholders and presumably @home themselves realize that a blackout is a baaaaad thing. As I said in an earlier thread on this subject, it seems more and more to me like this was more about posturing than anything else. There was no realistic chance that the judge would accept the $307m offer, so the real battle started today, not ended.

[US_MilitaryRules]

DIRECT TV DSL. SATELITE LINK. GET IT FOR BEING OUT IN THE WOODS OR BOONIES!